Police bust shoplifting ring at Fashion Valley

SAN DIEGO — San Diego police arrested two people Tuesday night and were searching for two others suspected of taking part in a shoplifting ring believed responsible for stealing thousands of dollars of merchandise from high-end area stores.

The incident began about 7:45 p.m. when police officers and undercover detectives were taking part in a shoplifting surveillance operation at Fashion Valley mall, police Lt. Paul Rorrison said.

Police pursued a black Lincoln Navigator that had been parked in the mall parking lot with four suspects who had reportedly stolen merchandise from Bloomingdales, Hollister, and Abercrombie & Fitch, he said.

Shortly after the chase began, the driver pulled the SUV over on state Route 163 at Friars Road, and he and three passengers got out and fled toward the mall.

Two men were taken into custody. Another man and a woman were being sought. Officers with police dogs searched the nearby riverbed area.

No weapons were seen and no shoppers were threatened, Rorrison said.

Rorrison said such shoplifting rings are highly organized and typically become more active around the holidays. He said the merchandise is often sold at swap meets or in Mexico.

Items worth about $2,000 were recovered from the SUV, Rorrison said.

San Diego police Sgt. Rick Castro said this was believed to be the third time the ring has struck in the past two weeks, each time at Fashion Valley.

Castro said the shoplifting ring is not believed related to the suspects involved in recent “grab and dash” thefts at area Macy’s stores.